The Nutcracker

My sister Aimee (who lives all the way over in Switzerland!) sent Naomi a surprise Christmas present today!

It's a copy of a new and fabulous pop up book by Patricia Fry, The Nutcracker.

I was so excited and Naomi sat with rapt attention as I read it to her for the first time. She absolutly loved the page where a beautuful candy palace unfolds. I really liked the layers of details, like there is a cabinet on the first page filled with special toys. The mouse king is cool too:) The story is shorter of course, being a chilren's pop up book, but the visual details are just lovely.

I don't know where to find one to get a look at in real life but I know Borders.com has it listed.

Take a look HERE. Also she has her own website: PatriciaFrybooks.com

Shades

They somehow were broken. She says Daddy stepped on them. I don't know. Then we had a cheap pair from maybe my mom's basement toy room. They were pink hearts, very awesome. She broke those, pulled the "arms" off accidentally, too excited maybe? Unfixable unless glued into an immovable state which is, of course, unacceptable.

Before all that there was a pair of tiny ones with pictures of fruit on them, from when she was a baby. And there was also the Mr. Potato Head pair. Both too small.

So I offered some of mine. A very inexpensive, even cheap pair purchased in a rush last summer when mine went missing. Or were broken. I don't remember which. They were white and seemed like the epitome of 2 year-old coolness. I was wrong. Something was wrong. She didn't like them.

Then, inspiration. How about we put some sparkles and buttons and jewels on them? YEAH! So I manned the glue gun and she ever so carefully stuck on the buttons, sparkly poms, flower and jewels. As the last jewel was pressed attentively into place she exclaimed,

They're just like Sharpay!

New and improved, these are much sought after designer (Naomi) shades now.

But Sharpay? It's been weeks since we watched HSM. I guess she made an impression.
BIG sigh. And she's only 2.

Grandma Linda

Zach's mom, "Grandma Linda" as she is affectionately called, was here all last week and left us for Utah on Sunday. It was so great to have her here! I have been so spoiled with both of our moms coming out to help me. It has been so wonderful. I've needed the help and Linda was great to have here;) I didn't change one (seriously) dirty diaper the whole week!

It was especially helpful to have Linda because James was so sick when she got here! He had an icky cold that made it really difficult for him to breath while eating. And he was just so sad, so an extra set of arms was just what we needed. Also Zach was super busy with his last week of classes.

And Naomi declined preschool on more than one occasion to stay home and play with Grandma. But can you blame her? James learned how to crawl during her visit too. We put up the tree and James decided to crawl on over to get a closer look, I mean- grab. at it. Naomi has told me repeatedly that "I just want to go and visit Grandma at her house right now!" Two weeks to a two year old might as well be two years! We miss you Grandma Linda.

We were able to visit the Washington DC temple Festival of Lights on Saturday. It's really beautiful, it's the East coast version of Temple Square in Salt Lake, but a bit smaller but no less lovely. The visitors center has concerts and programs continually this month, and pretty Christmas trees all decorated uniquely, as well as a beautiful display of nativities from around the world. Last Friday there was a special program or meeting for ambassadors from around the world to see the Christmas lights for it's first night and the ambassador from India had the honor of turning on the lights, officially beginning the festival.

Anyway, if you are at all in this area it's worth a visit. Just be sure to bundle up, it's been cold here!

This was so funny, in Downtown Silver Spring there was a Christmas tree display. When I went to take the picture of Naomi and Linda, this little boy jumped right in. He heard me calling to Naomi to look at me and smile so he called her by name too. Naomi was a little weirded out:)